45: Qin Lin, I'm willing.

Su Yuran and Lin Wanwan looked at each other.

Then Su Yuran spoke, her tone a bit strange:

"Qin Lin, my room... Room 001, did you set it to single bed mode?"

Qin Lin was startled and nodded: "Yeah. Why?"

"Then..."

Su Yuran glanced at Lin Wanwan.

"I'll sleep in my own room tonight."

Su Yuran glanced at Lin Wanwan again, her eyes holding an indescribable meaning.

Lin Wanwan’s face turned slightly red, and she lowered her head.

Qin Lin sensed the subtle atmosphere but didn't understand what was happening.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing."

Su Yuran smiled.

It sounded normal, but Qin Lin felt like there was more to her words.

Su Yuran sighed and spoke plainly:

"Qin Lin, I've discussed it with Senior."

"You haven't recovered from your injuries yet and need someone to take care of you."

"I'm a bit tired these past few days and want to rest..."

She paused and looked at Qin Lin:

"So, starting tonight, Senior will take care of you."

Qin Lin finally understood.

She wasn't tired at all; she was clearly creating an opportunity for him.

He looked at Lin Wanwan.

The girl's face was completely flushed, but she didn't object, only whispering:

"I... I know how to take care of people."

Qin Lin was silent for a few seconds.

He wasn't a block of wood.

He could feel the tacit understanding between the two girls and the change in Lin Wanwan's eyes when she looked at him.

He could also feel Su Yuran intentionally or unintentionally pushing for something.

This probably had to do with the two days he was unconscious.

During those two days, the two girls took care of him together, kept watch together, and might have talked a lot, reaching some kind of... consensus.

A consensus about him.

A consensus about that "Many Children, Many Blessings" task.

Qin Lin had mixed feelings.

On one hand, he did need care.

Although the "Recovery Aura" was strong, he had just recovered from a serious injury; he might get a fever at night, have nightmares, or his wounds might hurt.

It was indeed safer to have someone watching over him.

On the other hand, this was too... fast.

How many days had it been since Lin Wanwan joined them?

Even though he saved her, even though she was grateful, and even though she might have feelings for him, this was... "Qin Lin."

Su Yuran's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Don't overthink it. It's just simple caretaking. Senior is meticulous and better at it than I am. Once your injuries are healed, we'll go back to sleeping separately."

She spoke nonchalantly, but Qin Lin caught the underlying meaning.

Once my injuries are healed, then what?

He didn't ask.

He just nodded: "Okay. Sorry to trouble you, Senior."

Lin Wanwan's face grew even redder as she whispered:

"It's... it's no trouble."

And so, it was settled.

After dinner, Qin Lin took a bath.

After his Master Bedroom was upgraded, it had a bathtub.

Although it wasn't large, he could soak in it.

The hot water washed over his body, rinsing away the exhaustion and pain of the past few days.

He dried himself and changed into clean pajamas.

Su Yuran had already moved her things to Room 001.

Now, Qin Lin was the only one in Room 000.

But soon, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," Qin Lin said.

The door opened, and Lin Wanwan walked in holding a pillow and a quilt.

She had changed into pajamas.

It was the pink slip nightgown Su Yuran had given her, thigh-length, with a thin cardigan over it.

Her hair had been washed and draped softly over her shoulders.

She wore no makeup, but her skin was fair and clean, and her features were gentle.

She looked... beautiful.

"I... I'll sleep here."

Lin Wanwan pointed at the sofa in the room.

After the upgrade, Room 000 had a small sofa that could serve as a temporary bed.

"You sleep on the bed," Qin Lin said. "I'll sleep on the sofa."

"No!"

Lin Wanwan immediately objected.

"You're the injured one; you have to sleep on the bed. I'll just sleep on the sofa."

She was firm, so Qin Lin stopped arguing.

Lin Wanwan spread the quilt on the sofa and then walked over to check Qin Lin's wounds.

Her touch was light, and her fingertips were slightly cool; when they touched his skin, Qin Lin felt a subtle shiver.

"It's scabbed over," Lin Wanwan whispered.

"It's healing very quickly."

"Yeah, the effect of the Recovery Aura."

"Still, you need to be careful."

Lin Wanwan changed his medicine and re-bandaged him.

"If it hurts at night or if you get a fever, you must call me."

"Okay."

The main light was turned off, leaving only a small nightlight.

Qin Lin lay on the bed while Lin Wanwan lay on the sofa, a few meters apart.

The room was very quiet; they could hear each other's breathing.

"Qin Lin," Lin Wanwan suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for now?"

"Thank you for... letting me on the bus, letting me survive, and giving me such a beautiful room and such delicious food..."

Her voice was very soft.

"I never thought I could live like this in the Apocalypse."

Qin Lin was silent for a moment before saying:

"This isn't how life should be in the Apocalypse. This is just... a temporary haven. It's still cruel outside, and we still have to face many dangers."

"I know, but as long as I'm in the bus, as long as I'm with you... and Yuran, I'm not afraid."

Qin Lin didn't say anything.

After a while, Lin Wanwan asked again:

"Qin Lin, do you think we can find my family?"

"We'll try our best."

"And if... if we can't find them?"

Qin Lin turned his head toward the sofa.

In the darkness, he could only see her blurred silhouette.

"Then we'll keep looking," he said. "As long as we're alive, we'll keep looking."

Lin Wanwan gave a soft "mm-hmm."

After another while, she said:

"Qin Lin, I... I'm willing."

Qin Lin was startled: "Willing to do what?"

"Willing to help you."

Lin Wanwan's voice became even softer.

"Yuran told me... about those tasks."

"She said if you need my help, I... I'm willing."

Qin Lin's heart skipped a beat.

He hadn't expected Lin Wanwan to say it so directly.

"Senior," he took a deep breath.

"You don't have to just because of gratitude..."

"It's not gratitude."

Lin Wanwan interrupted him, her voice small but firm.

"At least not entirely. I... I like you."

"From the moment you saved me at the Library, from when you taught me how to use weapons, from when you protected us even though you were injured... I've liked you."

She paused and continued:

"And Yuran is right. In times like these, being able to like someone and be liked by someone is a blessing."

"If the three of us can be together, take care of each other, and survive together, then... then what is there to hesitate about?"

Qin Lin fell silent.

For a long, long time.

He really hadn't expected the "hero saving the beauty" trope to happen to him.

And for the beauty to be ready to offer herself in return.

It was such a classic trope!

Then he said: "Wait until you've really thought it through, then we'll talk."

"I have thought it through," Lin Wanwan said.

"Then wait until my injuries are healed," Qin Lin said.

"Right now, it's not appropriate."

Lin Wanwan was stunned for a moment, then she understood his meaning, and her face burned fiercely.

"Okay..." she whispered, "then get well soon."

Qin Lin smiled: "Okay."

The night grew deeper.

The wind and snow tapped against the bus windows like distant background noise.

Inside the bus, it was warm and safe.

And there were two young hearts, drawn close by the Apocalypse.

Beating together, slowly and steadily.